Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-25
WATERING HORSES.
How to Prevent Serious Gastric Derange-
ments and Other Ailments.

ments and Other Ailments.
There is no doubt that watering
horses at improper times often causes
serious gastric arrangements. Not
witkstanding what we have heretofore
said against the vicious practice OF
giving farm horses full drafts of water
Immediately after feeding, too many
persons persist in the practice. The
owners of driving and racing horses do
not make this mistake The result is,
mUeh of the food swallowed is washed
out of the stomach undigested, and
often carried far into the region be-
,yOnd the stomach. Hence the food is
not only undigested, but it is a pro-
'nonnced source of irritation. No horse
should be allowed to take large draft
of water for an hour after eating; in
fact, he will not do Sc IF he be allowed
tO,drink what he wants before eating.
Many persons suppose it is wrong to
allow horse to drink largely of water
before eating. 1t is only true in view
Of the fact that neither man nor animal
should ever get so THIRSTY as to drink
Unfortunately. But the taking of con-
siderable quantity OF water on an
empty stomach in the morning, is not
necessarily inimical TO health. The
stomach being empty, and filled with
water, it does not remfin there, but
largely passes into the cacum (blind
quit, and thence is absorbed into the
system.
If water be withheld from necessity,
1.-THE animal economy is called on, and
delivers up the moisture of the muscu-
lar system and of the viscera. When
it again becomes possible to give water
it is drank largely and thus is alb
>sOrbed land the several parts again re-
sumo their natural proportions. Dur
ing hot nights the body becomes dry,
and hence large quantities of
water will sometimes be taken
;in,the morning. But, when an;animal
lis very thirsty, it will take more than
lis. necessary. In this case do not:allow
drinking to full satisfaction Withhold
sHhat~ should mot be taken at the first
draft, and at, the end of twenty minutes
after water again. In "A majority. of in
stances only enough will he taken to
fairly>1wet the. mouth and t8Toat.
After the. horse has eaten, water may
be offered. Inzhis case no more ,wnl
be 4aken than ,snay be necessary to
fairly ,moisten the food-Often none
The rational prsctice is to offer the
horse wates' at every opportunity in hot
weather and when on a journey; to
give water in coll weather at least
once between meals. In hot weather
the horse should be allowed to drink
lightly at every opportunity, but if
heated. water should not be given m
less a mile or two of exercise Is to be
taken thereafter.
Another thing to be observed ia the
watering OF horses, is this fact: The
horse Graves pure watec-, and prefer
ably, cold Cattle seem inclined to
drink water not cold, and seem not
a~erse to pond water, yet no animal
should be allowed TO drink from stag
naAt pools, especially horses and mich
cows. In winter no farm animal should
be compelled to drink ice water. In
the more complete stables water is
kept before horses at all times. A |
slowly Sting gallon vessel is placed in
the manger with Il waste pipe attached |
near the top. To this the horse will |
turn when thirsty, drinking slowly, ard |
often while feeding he will mOisten his |
mouth to assist the mastication of dry !
food. This provided, there is no doubt !
but dry food is better than wet food for
the working horse.--Farns, Field aud
6toC brlen. /